Respite care shortages
Michael Moynihan describes serious shortages of respite care for people with intellectual disabilities, especially in Cork, and asks for a 2020 commitment. The Minister agrees respite is essential and says she will ask Health to provide specific details for Cork.
I draw the Government's attention to the inability of people with intellectual disabilities to get respite care throughout the country, not least in County Cork. They seek respite care throughout the year, whereas some people have been given only two or three weekends in the course of 2019. There was a commitment for more money to be invested in respite care in 2019 but it has not been shown to families who urgently need respite care. Is there a commitment from the Government to ensuring that more respite care will be made available in 2020? There is a chronic need for it among all the service providers in County Cork and throughout the country.
Comment on this
The Deputy is correct. Respite care is essential for those who provide care to loved ones and they need a well-earned break. On the issue in Cork, I will have to ask the Minister for Health to revert to the Deputy with specific details.